Nadal was playing his first match since losing to 17-year-old Borna Coric in the Swiss Open, and his lack of game time was evident as he failed to convert any of his 12 break points.

Murray raced into a 3-0 lead and broke Nadal twice as he comfortably took the first set.

The Scot broke again in the second game of the second set and after saving five break points in the next game, broke again to take a 4-0 lead.

He was struggling with his first serve, but Nadal again failed to convert another four break points in the next game before Murray broke the Spaniard for a fifth time to seal victory.

In the other semi-final, world number one Djokovic played his first game in six weeks but continued his impressive 2014 form as he restricted last year's Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka to just three games in an impressive 6-1 6-2 victory.